[226) THE A~UINAS

The authorship of "Beowulf" is of course obscure. According to some scholars, "Beowulf" is of strictly popular origin, like the later English ballads. But the view now generally current is that the poem i~ the work of one man-an Englishman­ who recast the materials brought from the Continent. Some critics even go so far as to ascribe it to a high Church dignity-possibly Hygeberht, Bishop of Litchfield, statesman and courier at the time of the great Offa II, King of Mercia, who in the second half of the eighth century gathered the entire Heptarchy under his overlord­ ship. Regardless of who the author may have been, it is likely that his work was nothing more than the arrangement and editing of various well-known lays and sagas, and the addition of Christian elements. How far he retained the actual language of the older songs we no lo'nger have any means of knowing, but he must have added a good deal of comment and reflection, and it is certain that the structure of the epic is entirely his own work. The substance of this ancient poem is a mingling of history, folk-lore, and myth. Beowulf is a hero. He is a very wonderful person who is not at all backward about boasting of his exploits. He comes, with his followers, to Heorot to aid Hrothgar, King of the Danes, to overthrow .the monster Grendel who for twelve years has been visiting the mead hall and devouring the followers of Hrothgar. Beowulf fights with Grendel. In the fight Beowulf wrenches off the arm and shoulder of the monster and he flees to his fen-home to die. Grendel's mother, a "mighty mere-woman" comes to the hall of Hrothgar to avenge her son. She seizes one of Hrothgar's dearest thanes and drags him to her sea-cavern. Beowulf tracks her to her haunt in a deep-sea gorge, plunges into the dark pool, and after an incredibly long swim and all kinds of strange encounters, he finally succeeds in killing her with a magic sword hanging con­ veniently near by. In the mere-woman's submarine cavern Beowulf finds the dead body of Grendel and severs the head, which he bears triumphantly to his followers who are waiting anxiously above. There is feasting and rejoicing again in the halls of Hrothgar, and Beowulf and his followers are showered with praise and gifts. A break occurs in the action of the story at this point. We find Beowulf an old man and King of the Geats, with only one thing to mar the peace and happiness of his kingdom. A fire-breathing dragon has for three-hundred years gua;ded a treasure hoard, and because a lawless thane has stolen a golden cup from his hoard he is now ravaging the land. Beowulf becomes angry and decides that it is about time that something be done about it, so he gathers his followers and advances upon the dragon's lair. Leaving his men outside he goes in to fight the dragon, accompanied only by the faithful Wiglaf. Beowulf succeeds in slaying the dragon, but in so doing he receives a mortal wound. He directs Wiglaf to bring forth the treasure from the cave, and then expires. Thus passed he who was

"Of men the mildest and most gracious, 'fo his people the ~indest, and most eager for praise." The sorrowing thanes build a funeral pyre upon which his body is burned, and on a high bluff they raise a great mound, to be forever known as "Beowulf's Barrow" to the "sea-farers as they drive their barks from afar through the mists of the ocean."